The Richland Springs Coyotes escaped Moody Field with a much deserved win over the Calvert Trojans last Friday night and a Final Four spot in the State Six-man Division II Tournament. The highly anticipated matchup between the two powerhouse programs lived up to its’ billing and will be rehashed by the old-timers and the six-man loyalists for years to come.

At a casual glance of the score, it appeared to be a horse race or a track meet, with both teams scoring at will. The truth is, it was a good old fashioned smash-mouth football game, both teams finding the defensive opposition, to be much tougher than they had faced all year. The Trojans couldn’t consistently stop the Coyotes powerful running game, and the Coyotes defensive secondary allowed 4 touchdown passes just barely over their outstretched fingers.

In the end, the total offensive numbers from scrimmage, were close to even. The Coyotes with 468 yards, and the Trojans with 431 yards, from the line of scrimmage. Big plays and turnovers were the key to this matchup. The Trojans suffered 3 fumbles lost and an interception, which was returned for a touchdown, and the Coyotes had one interception and a fumble, returned for 72 yards and a score. The Coyote defense limted the vaunted Trojan running game to a meager 122 yards on 29 attempts and the Trojan defense gained advantage from an anemic Coyote passing attack, (which just missed on many occasions)limiting the Coyotes to 85 yards passing, on 6 of 18 attempts and one interception.

COYOTE SCORING DRIVES RECAPPED

The Coyotes took the opening kickoff but were unable to move the ball. They punt, and hold the Trojans on their first possession. Calvert punts, and Richland Springs takes over at their own 39 yard line. 1st and 15, Denim Reeves skirts the right side for a nice gain but it is nullified by a penalty, 2nd and 25. A Reeves to Stephen Thornhill pass is picked off, but then fumbled by the Trojans, Stephen Fowler recovers for the Coyotes, 1st and 15, from their own 36. Fowler and Ben Vancleave clears the right side for an 11 yard gain by Denim Reeves. 2nd and 4 from the Trojan 35. Reeves tosses complete to Brian Torres for 19 yards to the Trojan 15 yard line. Reeves is stuffed for no gain, looking for receivers, but there is a penalty on the play, Coyotes 1st and goal from the ten. Reeves, after a short gain, fumbles the snap back, The Trojans pick it up and score, a 72 yard backbreaker. Denim Reeves returns the ensuing kickoff back to the Coyote 32 yard line, 1st and 15. Reeves misfires on consecutive pass plays, 3rd and 15. Reeves scampers for 16, again led by Fowler and Vancleave blocks. Stephen Fowler gets 2 lead blocks and Denim scores!!! from 32 yards out. Frankie Soto’s PAT is good. 8-8, 4:22 left in the first quarter. Brian Torres intercepts!!! and scores!!! from 19 yards out, aided by heavy pressure from Ben Vancleave on the quarterback. Soto’s PAT is good, Coyotes 16-8 4:06 left in the first period. Three plays later, Chance Bush recovers a Trojan fumble on the Coyotes 8 yard line. 1st and 15, Torres is stuffed for little or no gain. Then, John Greenwood, powers his way around the right side, for 17 to the Coyotes 25 yard line. 1st and 15. Denim Reeves explores the left side for 8, 2nd and 7. Greenwood is stopped for a one yard gain, and then Reeves throws incomplete. On 4th down, Reeves is stopped short of the first down and the Coyotes turn the ball over on downs. The Trojans quickly score but the PAT is no good, Coyotes 16-14 1:31 left in the first. Coyotes start at their own 30 yard line, and on the first play, Denim Reeves scores!!! Led by another awesome block by Stephen Fowler, Reeves looked like a downhill slalom skier, ducking and dodging for 50 yards. PAT no good, Coyotes 22-14, 1:20 remaining in the first. On their 2nd play the Trojans answer back and their PAT is good 22-22, :30 left in the first. Coyote ball on their own 23. Brian Torres rumbles around the right side for 12 yards. 2nd and 3. Reeves up the middle for 1, 3rd and 2. John Greenwood blasts around the right end for 13 yards and a first down. 1st and 15 from the Trojans 30 yard line. Chance Bush throws to Denim Reeves complete for 18 yards to the 12 yard line. Greenwood gains 5 tough yards to the right, and Denim Reeves takes a quick pitch to the 1. Greenwood scores untouched. PAT no good. Coyotes 28-22, 8:17 left in the 2nd. The Trojans fumble on their first play from scrimmage and Ben Vancleave recovers on the Trojans 3 yard line. Torres is stopped for no gain but Reeves scores following a crushing cut block by John Greenwood. PAT no good. Coyotes 34-22 , 7:31 left in the second. Calvert answers back with a kickoff return for a touchdown. Pat is good. Coyotes 34-30, 7:19 left in the 2nd. Coyotes take over at their own 20 yard line but have to punt. After a Vancleave and Fowler tackle for loss and a John Greenwood sack, the Trojans turn the ball over on downs at the Coyote 24 yard line. Reeves sweeps for 19 into Trojan territory at the 37 yard line. Bush is stacked up for a 3 yard loss and then Denim scores on a beautiful run. Soto Pat is good, Coyotes 42-30 at the half. The Trojans score on their first 2nd half possession, but the Pat is no good. Coyotes 42-36 8:48 left in the third period. With great blocking all over the field, Denim Reeves scores from 50 yards out. Soto’s PAT is good. Coyotes 50-36, 7:20 left in the third period. The Trojans then take 9 plays to score, aided by a big 4th down pass play. PAT no good. Coyotes 50-42, 5:08 in the 3rd. The Coyotes turn the ball over on downs and Calvert scores on the 1st play. PAT is good. 50-50 3:40 left in the third. The Coyotes again turn the ball over on downs. Trojans ball on their own 29 yard line. After a huge sack by Ben Vancleave the Trojans turn the ball over on downs at the Trojan 18 yard line. Reeves runs for 5 and then 2 yards, on 3rd and 7, Reeves finds Brian Torres for a 1st down at the 1. John Greenwood slams it in. Soto’s Pat is good. Coyotes 58-50, 8:52 in the fourth. The Trojans, aided by a phantom interference call, score on their next drive to even the score at 58 all. 6:49 left in the game. Denim Reeves returns kickoff to the Trojan 35 yard line. Chance Bush skirts the right side for 29 yards a first down. Chance Bush get the go ahead touchdown with 4:58 left in the game. Soto’s Pat is good Coyotes 66-58 and thats a final. The Coyotes travel to Comanche this Friday, to face the Milford Bulldogs, in an exciting rematch of the first game of the season, which Richland Springs won by two points. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity, to witness some of the best football in the country, right here in our area. Thank you, Coyotes, you have made us proud!!! Now go win State!!!